Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-06-30
THE QUEEN AND COURT.
Fetch Worship Of the English Drawing
| Hoom-At the Mob'- Mercy.

In England that institution called the
drawing room has in it about as much
nationality aS may bc found IN any form
of fetch worship among the savageS of
Africa. In the piercing east winds Of
March hundreds of delicate young girls,
of middle aged ladies. aud totleriug old
dowagcrS bare their arms and HeCks half
way to the waist put on trains 10 which
the pesCoCk = Is n dusty joke, and set out
in broad daylight to spend an hour or so
in their carriages. waiting their turn for
presentation or simple attendance. The
rudest roughS and COaTsest scum Of Lon
don gather round the carriages, standing
stationary for a quarter of an hour at "a
time, or moving forward at foot pace.
They press close, tlattening their noses
against the glass, making brutal remarks
and passing round little jokes. The show
is for them rs well as for the immediate
actors, aud they are not minded to lose
the benefit Of it. The pretty young girls
have 70 run the gauntlet Of an admiration
TINT is more offensive than fiattering.
The plain ones hear few unvarnished
words which make no pretense of gliding.
The stout old ladies' with their quiycrug
acres Of flesh displayed according TO the
rules, and the thin guirquaCenaTians
bronchitic, nervous. anTmiC, are Salutcd
with derision and criticised without
mercy.
Only that certain kind Of Opulent beau
ty, which is radiant with health and des-
titute of nerves. enjoys the admiration,
which to others sounds more like insults
than praise; and this kind sits well for
ward in the carriage. with white hand
and arm and polished shoulder generously
displayed; and the roughs are not un-
grateful This is the first of the days
ordeals TO be gone through By those who
attend the drawing rooms on their own
account or TO present their daughters, as
a kind of fetichistc dedication on their in
PRODUCTION TO society and the marriage
market. Within the palace the csush is
even more painful than has been the slow
transit, semi nude, i'll broad daylight, in a
biting wind and through the gross tougucd
crowd. 4 well dressed mob strives for
front places and first moments AS siren
uously a. its ragged brethren in the
streets. Its language is more choice, and
its fists are not SO free; but its elbows are
rs sharp, and it knows how 10 use them;
while pretty feet, daintily cased in silkeu
stockings and satin shoes. prove that high
heels are by 10 means inefficient pestles.
There have been drawing rooms where
the struggle has been severe indeed. 50
that the floor has been strewn with flow
ers and ribbons and jewels, rs the wrecks
and spoils of battle; and whence the fair
flesh OF the sweet faced combatants las
carried away scratches and bruises as
tokens Of the contest. And all for what ?
To pass, in one rapid moment. before the
queen and her court, standing in n semi
circle little behind her mute and mo-
tionless as SO many wax figures Rt Madame
Tussaud's. There is no kindly conversa-
ton, no pleasant speeches, as in the even
ing receptions in Italy, say, where the
queen receives the same as any other lady,
and her dignity as queen enhances her
sweetness as hostess. 1t is q mere lifeless
form, out of which every fragment Of hu-
manity and common sense has been alb
stracted. But all this personal discomfort
and distress the women Of England will
lingly undergo for the sake of the fetch
they have created and now adore.-The
ArgOnaut.